EU sets new rules for truck drivers to improve road safety

New rules for the operation of coach and truck drivers on the territory of the European Union have become effective on April 11. The measure aims to improve safety on the European roads. The new regulation requires drivers to have a mandatory 45-hour rest after every two weeks of work.


Besides, drivers will be able to work not more than 9 hours, or not more than 56 hours per week (previously, it was 72 hours), and not more than 90 hours within two weeks.


They can now drive only for six days in a row against 12 days previously. A day break should last at least 11 hours, and it can be divided into two parts.


Under the rules, employers, not the drivers, will be held responsible for the violation of this regulation.


Drivers from Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands were in Brussels in March to protest the new rules. They feared they were going to make less money and accused the European Commission of being far from the realities of international transporters.